By Michael DUMANSKY

At the first home game of the regular basketball season, the St. Francis Golden Knights drew a crowd when they hosted their neighbor down the street, the La Cañada High School Spartans.

St. Francis gave up the first basket giving the Spartans the lead early on 3-0. But that would be the only lead the Spartans would have that night. St. Francis senior guard Andre Henry drew a foul and took the ball for an easy lay-in to put up four quick points. The Golden Knights were able to convert at the free throw line shooting perfectly from the spot.

Golden Knights’ senior guard Jason Gallant helped by putting up 13 points in the contest. It was then that St. Francis pulled away taking the lead to 30-18 at the half.

As the third quarter got underway the Spartans made a late push as senior guard Kyle Brown cut the lead to 36-27. Things began to get tense as tempers flared resulting in a technical foul and a personal foul called on both teams.

“In this atmosphere it is easy to get caught up with the emotions so I just took a couple of breaths and talked to my team,” said Henry. “I told them to look at the scoreboard, look at the time and we’d be fine.”

The Golden Knights were able to regroup and handled business the rest of the way as they won 62-41. Henry, a UC Irvine commit, led the team with 27 points.

The Golden Knights’ next non-conference game will be on Friday, Dec 13 at 7 p.m. at St. Genevieve in Panorama City.

  Michael DUMANSKY